What To Expect in the Markets This Week

Markets will trade on shortened hours during the Christmas holiday week, with all markets closed Wednesday for the holiday, and shortened trading hours on Christmas Eve.

Investors will be watching for reports on consumer confidence, new home sales, durable goods orders, initial jobless claims, international trade, and retail inventories. Few earnings reports are scheduled.

Monday, Dec. 23

• Consumer Confidence Index (December)
• Anavex Life Sciences (AVXL) reports earnings

Tuesday, Dec. 24

• Durable goods orders (November)
• New home sales (November)
• Stock markets close at 1 p.m. ET
• Bond markets close at 2 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Dec. 25

Thursday, Dec. 26

• Initial jobless claims (Week ending Dec. 21)

Friday, Dec. 27

• Advance international trade balance (November)
• Advance retail inventories (November)
• Advance wholesale inventories (November)

Christmas Holiday Shortens Trading Week

Investors will have fewer trading opportunities in the holiday-shortened week. Markets will be closed on Wednesday for Christmas. On Tuesday, stock markets will close at 1 p.m. ET while bond markets will end trading at 2 p.m. 

Despite the shortened week, some economic indicators are scheduled to be released, starting with the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index on Monday. The labor-sensitive survey comes as consumers recently reported feeling better about the economy in the wake of the election. Federal Reserve officials pay close attention to consumer inflation expectations, which could attract additional attention after the central bank’s decision Dec. 18 to lower its interest-rate cut outlook. 

On Tuesday, investors will get Census Bureau data on new home sales and durable goods orders. The report on new home sales comes after similar data showed that existing home sales increased in November. The durable goods orders report will provide insight into the health of the U.S. manufacturing sector.

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The Thursday initial jobless claims data follows an upward movement in unemployment that Fed officials have been following. On Friday, investors will get a look at inventory levels for retailers and wholesalers, which can provide insight into whether product sellers anticipate increased activity. 

While earnings reports are limited during the holiday week, New York-based pharmaceutical company  Anavex Life Sciences will issue its quarterly financials on Monday.